Boxing: Hard work wins for Ryan

MERTHYR Ex-servicemen’s Club’s 20-year-old boxer Ryan Griffiths gave an outstanding performance and recorded one of his best wins when he topped the bill at the Gelligaer ABC tournament held at Blackwood Rugby Club.

MERTHYR Ex-servicemen’s Club’s 20-year-old boxer Ryan Griffiths gave an outstanding performance and recorded one of his best wins when he topped the bill at the Gelligaer ABC tournament held at Blackwood Rugby Club.

Ryan (pictured left), who was last season’s Welsh ABA lightweight finalist, has now stepped up to light welterweight.

The Ex-club boxer did not have an easy bout at his new weight with opponent Liam McGoldrick (St Josephs).

Ryan’s bout with the Newport boxer was an all action contest with both boxers throwing punches non-stop for four rounds.

McGoldrick, who was made last season’s British Under-19s Four Nations champion and recent Multi-Nations silver medallist, came out looking for a quick win in the first round throwing punches from all angles at Ryan.

But Griffiths was more than willing to trade with him.

The second round was the same with both boxers fighting toe to toe and unwilling to take a backward step.

Ryan’s work rate and body punching in the third round were beginning to take their toll on the Newport fighter with McGoldrick being warned for infringements with his head and elbows.

Both boys knew it was close coming out for the fourth round but it was the Galon Uchaf boxer’s higher work rate that gave him the edge in this session and he took the majority decision.

Ryan’s clubmate 15-year-old Alex Wright also gave an outstanding performance when he fought at the St.Josephs ABC tournament held at Pill Millennium Centre, Newport. Alex was too sharp for Synwell ABC southpaw Connor Jones. Alex, from Nantyglo, won every round of this contest, beating the Gloucester boxer on a unanimous decision.